Universal joint



Jan, 1925.

c. l.. ANDERSQN UNIVERSAL JOINT original Fild March 25g-1921 Re. r15,980

Reissued Jan. 13, 192,5'.

UNITED, STA

rss

l y Re 15,980 PATENT OFFICE.

anni. L. ANnEnsQN, or nocxrom), ILLINOIS, AssmNon or oN'E-roUnrII-To LEVIN raUsT, ONE-FOURTH 'ro Emo s. Exs'rnou, Nn ONE-FOURTH 'ro cant E. swENsoN, y

ALI. or mcxrom ILLINOIS.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

originan mi. 1,450,707, lama April ,1m,seria1 Nn. 455,610, aleanrcn '25, mai. yinplannen for vT 0 all whom t may cof/warn.`

Be it known that I, CARI. L. ANDERsoN,-a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Rockford` in thecounty of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Universal Joints, of which the following is aspecificaf'l W1t-h the accompanying drawing,-in which` tion.

This invention pertains to universal joints of the sQ-c-alled trunnion type, particularly adapted as coupling elementsfor peller shafts of motor vehicles, although equally well adapted for couplingany drivingr and driven members. l

The primary object ot4 the present invention is to providea novel universal joint characterized by an oil reservoir of relative# ly large. capacity embodied in a .compact and uni ne construction, whereby toY insure ,perfect ubrication ofthe trunnion'bearing during a considerably longer period ofvusage than is possible with prior` constructions;

Y To this end l havefvairned to utilize a transmission housing, t-hat is, the part" that' couples the terminal-.trun'nion' members, as a reservoir permitting the use'l of liquid lubricant without danger of leakage or waste. Furthermore, I have so constructed and ar- .ranged the trunnion bearings within the reservoir as to insure' at all times lubrication thereof vwith a thm film of oil, thereby greatly increasing the life of the universal joint and promoting general eiiciency.V

Another important object of my invention resides in the novel construction of the universal joint, with the view to economy in production; and I have contemplated a joint comprising but few parts, all of which may be produced by what are considered" ordinary and simple machine operations. More particularly my invention contemplates .constructing the combined transmis' sion housing and oil reservoir in several parts, eachin the form of a stamping, and .in clamping these together by means; of parts which servefalso as the'bearings for the trunnions. Thus, the principal parts perform dual functions and promote econonly and eiliciency.r I

Another object is to provide a universal joint of the be dust and dirt proof and in whichthe trunnion surfaces shall always be covered reissue tiled February 171,

character described which shall 1924. serial No2 some1.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view centrally through a. universal joint embodyme my invention; f y

- 1g. 2, a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 2--2' of Fig. 1, with the-,horizontally disposed trunnion memberl removed, and showing the trunnion bearings therefor and their clamping nuts in elevation; y

vIlign, a detail end view of the transmission housing;

Fig. 4, a sectional view through said hous-v ing taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a top view of one of the trunnion bearing blocks; and

Fig.` 6, a sectional view throughthe block taken on the line 67-6 of Fig. 5.

The terminal coupling members designated generally n characters 7 and 8 which connect to the drivingrand driven members, may be of any suitable or preferred construction,` and' at present arey of the well known trunnion type, each terminating at one end in a pair of opposed coaxial trunmons 9. I propose in the present invention to provide novel means for connecting these trunnions, including efficient bearings, which shall be dust vand dirt prooi?l and thoroughly lubricated at all times.

` The principal couplingppart is in the form' of a; transmission ,housing'designated gen? A erally by 11', which is so shaped that it'also l -provides an oil reservoir of relatively large ycapacity'. I have proposed, for convenience .in manufacture merely, to form this transmission housing of a plurality of parts, preferably of two half sections, each idenf tical in construction. In order to promote economy in production, I prefer that these half sections shall each be in the form of a s tamping,'that is, a part pressed .from sheet metal of the proper gauge. I have accord ngly shaped each half section to provide an outer annular wall 12, and an inner four `sided 'wall 13 joined by an end wall 14.

These sections when vplaced together as shown in Fig. 4, form-an annular lubricant reservoir of large capacity considering the outside4 diameter of the transmission housing. are formed in the inside Wall 13 for the reception of the trunnions 9 and in the same radial planes holes 17 are formed in the end walls 14 lt'or the reception ofthe parts which clamp the transmission sections together. After these sections have been formed the meeting surfaces 18 will be accurately machined and'tlie sui-faces 19 on the inside of the Walls 14 contiguous to the holes 17, Will bemachined using the surfaces 18 as a gauge. The surfaces '20 Will likewise be machined to provide a close joint. for the inner ends of the bea ing blocks which Will noW be described. v. The transmission sections are clamped together through the agency of parts 21 `disposed Within the oil reservoir 15 .and having diametrically opposed threaded ends 22, which extend through the openings 17 and are equipped With clamping nuts 23. These parts 21 also provide bearings for the trunnions 9. To this end,l I prefer to, butfdo not necessarily, employ a bearing construction such as described in my U. Letters Patent No. 1,450,706, in which theA bearing bo'dyis provided with a throughjopening 24 which may be accurately machined, and an end thrust'bearing cap 25 permanently secured 'in the outer'end of the body or `block 21, as explained in said patent. In the .presentinvention, hoivever, the major axis lshoulders 26`at the .Joint at 18, and at the of each bearing block extends transverse to the trunnion housing, the plane in which parallel With it, or in a radial plane as in said` patent. 'The dimension between the ends of each bearing when the parts are asin Eig. 1, and the nuts the meeting' surfaces 18 block is such that semble'd, as shown 23 'are tightened,

.of the transmission block sections, 'if a secfr tional block is "employed, will be'lirougl'ijt together under pressure before the surfaces 19 engage the shoulders .26, so that the iinal clampin'gwill insure an absolutely tight same time rigidly secure the bearing blocks 21 inposition and effect as it were, an integral one-part trans` mission block structure. Any suitable lock nut means may be provided for preventing displacement of the nuts 23.'

It is especially desirable to use a liquid lubricant of such consistency and grade that it vwill flow freely as distinguished from the heavier grades of oil and grease necessitated by prior constructions,- which invariably do not reach lall of the' bearing *surfaces, With detrimental results. By reason of the present construction, I` am Vable to use the proper grade of oil to insure most Quarteringly arranged holes 16- sistency a joint that is, transverse to' 1t revolves, instead of,

ing blocksyvithin said bearings for the trunnions and serif'ing also transmission housing' ally sealed by va packing 29-of suitable material, such as felt. e

lI have found from experimentation and thorough tests that a universal jointproperly constructed as disclosed herein, is absolutely dust and dirtl proof and loil tight; that vwith oil of the proper grade and conof this kind Will transmit a given load, higher than the average for a considerably longer period than is possible v'vithother Amakes of commercial universal joints, thereby assuring that a manufacturer can Warrant thejoint for much longer use.

than is lpermitted- .by 'prior constructions; and that this unusuldurability and longev- 'ity may lie-attributed t'o the fact that relatively largearea-.trunnion bearings, includingthefnd thrust bearings, 4 'are covered at all times by the compleinental `bearing surfaces'and vare dust and dirt proof and that these surfaces are continually covered with a'thin iilmof oil, thereby reducing Wear and friction to the minimum. It Will also be observed that with relation to the out side diameter ofthetrunnion coupling meinvbers, the joint structure is especially com# pact and that the few parts are so designed as to be capable of production by simple machine operations .at a comparatively low cost.

Itis believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects prefaced above. and while I have illustrated and described but a single Working embodi* ment thereof, Ait should be understood that various changes might be made in the con-h struction and arrangement. without departl ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as 'expressed in the appended claims; in which'` I claim:

1. A universal mission housing formed to two annular secjoint comprising trunnion type terminal coupling members, a transy opening tions shaped to'jointly provide an o il reser- Voli' oflarge capacity,'and trunnion bearreservoir proiv'iding for clamping said sections together.

2. In a trunnion-type universal joint, a

comprising a plurality of ann'ular parts shaped to jointly provide ananuular oil reservoir of relatiyelyv large capacity.. `andmeaus clamping` said parts together and providing bearings for the tiunnious. In a. trunnion-type universal joint,- a transmission housing formed of. a plurality of annular sections providing au oil reser- -voir of relatively large capacity, and trun-y mission member, and trunnion connectionsV nion bearing blocks within said reservoir; having threaded ends 'extending through the` end Walls of the reservoir and equipped at the exterior thereof with nuts for clamping 'the reservoir sections together.,

4. A universal joint comprisinga pair ot trunnion-type terminal coupling members, a transmission housing ormedhin two half sections, each'. U-shaped in cross section and jointly prviding an 'annular oil reservoir,

a 'bearing block for each trunnion disposedwithin said reservoir and having'threadedends extending through the end -A walls ofthe transmission'se'ctions, and nuts on said ends for Vclamping said sections together.

5. In a trunnion-type universal joint, a transmission housing comprising al plu.

rality of annular. parts shaped to jointly provide an annular oil reservoir of relatively'.-

large capacity and hav/ing quarteringly arranged holesY through 4the end wal s and -through the inner Walls of the reservoir,

a bearing block for leach of the trunnions which extends through one of the second mentioned holes, each bearing block having diametrically opposed threaded ends extending through the first mentioned rholes,

and nuts on said ends for clamping said l parts together and tothe bearing blocks.

6. In a .trunnion-type universal joint, the combinationof terminal coupling members, a combined `transmission housing and oil reservoir formed of-tvvo half sections each having an annular outer wall and a four sided inner \`vall -joined by an end wall, theinner walls'havi'ngopenings for the re.

ception-of the trunnion ends, and bearing blocks for the trunnion ends within the reservoir and serving for clamping the sec-4 tions together.

' 7. lIn a trunnionJtype universal. joint, the combination of terminal coupling members, a ycombined transmission housing and oil reservoir formed of two half sections each having an annular-outer Wall Aand a foursided inner wall joined by an end wall,

the inner Walls having openings for vthe' reception of the trunnion ends, bearing blocks for the trunnion ends within the reservoir and serving for clamping the secvtions together, said bearing blocks having oil'holes connecting the oill reservoir with Gil freservoir, veach carrying bearings for the lthe trunnion bearing surfaces, and an oiltight packing at the inner end of each trunnion bearing.

8. Ina trunnion-type universal joint, the

lcombination of a transmission housing formed of a plurality of sections providing an vannular oil vreservoirof relatively large capacity, and parts disposed AWithin said trunnions and serving to hold said sections together. Y

9. In a universal jolnt, the combination oso ofcoupling members, aA sectional transbetween said members, including a bearing 'block for each trunnion serving for connecting the sections of the 1,transmission member together. c -10. In a universal of coupling members, a sectional transmission member, and trunnion connections between said members, including a bearing block for each trunnion serving forv connecting the sections of the transmission member together, each bearing bloclhaving -a through opening providing radial bearing for V'its trunnion, and a bearing member secured in theouter end of each bore Aproviding a bearing surface comple-` mental to the outer end ofits trunnion for taking theend thrust of the latter.

1-1. Ina universal joint, in combination, coupling members, :aj transmission housing shaped to provide a-'lubricant reservoir, and

having an inner and outer Wall joined by endwalls, and trunnion connections between said coupling members and housing comprising trunnions, bearing. blocks therefor disposed Within the lubricant reservoir and having endsY extending through lthe end walls of' the housing,`and means forl securing said ends to said end Walls for holding the bearing blocks in operative position.

l2. In a trunnion type universall joint, in coinbinatioma transmission housing, defined by an inner andan outer Wall joinedl by end-Walls, coupling members each having opposed co-axial trunnions, said housing providing a lubricant reservoir having quarte'ringly spaced openings through which said trunnions enter the housing, said end ivalls having openings in the radial planes -ofsaid trunnion openings, and a bearingsupporting member for each trunnion having ends extending through said openings inthe end Walls and being supported on said end .Walls in rigid relation' thereto.

. 13.'In a trunnion ty e' universal joint, -infcombination, couplinlg)` members having .trunnions, a transmission housing providing `a vlubricant reservoir, said trunnions being .positioned Within the reservoir intermediate the Send Walls of the housing, aibearingsupporting member for each 'trunniomand means in connection with each 'bearing- 'supporting 'member .extending through each end Wall of the-housing and engaging the outer face thereof for holding said bearing-supporting memberA in operative position Within the housing. v '111. In, a trunnion type universal joint, in combination, coupling ,members having trunnions, va transmission housing providing a lubricant reservoir, and a bearing block for each trunnion. positioned Within ther' transmission housing with its major axis transverse thereto, 'and'having ends extends' joint, the combination l' vll() fand connected with the outer faces thereo v'ends extending through end Walls of the 1 5. In a universal joint, in combination, .coupling members having opposed coaxial 'trunnions, a hollow transmission housing formed from a plurality of sections providing a lubricant reservoir, and bearing-supporting members within the transmission ousing providing-journal bearings for. the

trunnions and having clamping engagement with opposite ends of said housing for clamping the interposed housing and holding said members inoperative position.

16.In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having opposed coaxial trunnions, a holloW transmission housing. formed from a. plurality of sections providing a lubricant reservoir, and bearing-supporting 'members within the transmission housing providing journal bearings`for the trunnions and having diametrically' opposed housing and having means engaging the .posed locating an and being formed of a plurality of sections separated intermediate adapted to be secured -together to= provide an oil tight joint, and bearing-supportin means for each` trunnion having oppose ends passingthroughsaid end Walls, and means on said ends adapted to be clamped against theA outer faces of said end walls.

21. In anniversal coupling members having trunnions, a hollow transmission housinghaving an `inner and an outerwall joined by end Walls providing a` lubricant re`servoir,- said housing being formed of two .sections separated intermediate said end walls and adapted to be secured together at their meeting edges to provide .an oil-tight joint, the inner Wall of said housing having openings through4 Which-the trunnions. enter the housing, a

'bearing-supporting block for each trunnion Within the housing having diametrically-opon the Vend walls of the housing, and means said end Walls Abut supporting ends mounted joint, in combination, i

outer face o f each end Wall, said means in- `putting the housingsections'under comprescluding a nut threaded 'on one of said ends)l and adapted to'be tightened thereon -for. clamping said means against the interposed end walls. i

17. .In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, ahollw transmission housing providing a lubri. cant reservoir, said housin having an inner and an outer wall joined y end Walls, the inner wallhaving quarteringly spaced openings through which the trunnions enter the housing, each end wall having openings in the radial planes fof said openings in the linner Wall, and means carrying a bearing for each trunnion, eae. bearing-carrying means having endsextending through said -openings in the end Walls and being clamped to the outer faces. thereof.

18. In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, a hollow transmission housing providing a lubricant reservoir, and bearing blocksV for the trunnions disposed within said housingrand having diametrically4 opposed ends extending through opposite Walls thereof and having means engaging outer`surfaces of said walls and adapted to be drawn together for clamping the interposed' Walls.

19. In a .universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, a hollow transmission housing providing a lubri-- cant reservoir, and bearing blocks for vthe trunnions each having d iametricallylopposed ends in a planeV transverse toits bearing axis supported on opposite Walls of said housing for 'holding its bearing block in operative position. l

20. In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, a holloW transmission housing'providing a lubricant reservoir, said housing having end walls sion tending to clamp said meeting edges together.

22; In a universaljoint, in combination,

coupling members having trunnionsg a transmission housingprovidinga lubricant reservoirhaving openings through which the trunnions enter the housing, supporting member for adap and each trunnion ed to be positioned Within the housing having diametrically opposed ends rigidlybut removably 4mounted 'on the end `means including a-nut threaded on one' of said ends. ,24. In a universal joint, in combination, coupling membershaving trnnnions, a holand a bearinglowtransmission housingproviding a lubricant reservoir, 'the trunnions extending into said housing, and bearing members for the .trunnions extending transverselythrough the transmission housing and mounted rigidly but detachably thereon, with the 'major axis of each bearing member transverse to the plane in which the transmission'housing revolves.

25. In a universal coupling members having trunnioiis, l a

joint, in combination,

transmission housing having quarteringly spaced openings for the reception of the trunnions, bearing members for the trimnions, each bearing member being adapted to be positioned lbetween the end Walls of the transmission housing and having an end extendiiigthrougli one of said end Walls',

member for each trunnion having housing transverse hollow transmission l lubricant reservoir, said housing having in-Y I ner and. outer walls joined by end walls and being formed of a plurality of sections sepa'- parallel with the a shoulder on each of said bearing members adapted to bear againstone of said end walls, and a nut threaded on one of said extended ends and vadapted to be tight 'cned against the adjacent end wall orrigid-v ly securing its bearing member with respect to the housing.

26. In a-universal joint, vin combination` coupling members having trunnions, a transmission housing providing a lubricant reservoir 'and' having quarteringly spaced openings inv its iner wall through which the trunnions enter the housing, a bearing ends extending through and lined tothe end walls of the housing, and a packing between the inner end of each trunuioii and the adjacent parts ofthe housing and-respective bearing member.

27. In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, a transmission housing formed from a plurality of sections which meet in a plane plane of rotation, said housing' providing a lubricant reservoir an having uarteringly spaced openings in its inner walll through which the trunnions enend walls in the radial planes of said trunnion openings, bearing means for each trunnion disposed within the housing and having ends located' in said openings in the end walls, and means for securing said ends to the end walls including a member threaded on 'one of said ends and adapted to be tightened against the adjacent' end wall, whereby to simultaneously compress the to said plane.

28. In a universal joint, in combination, coupling members having trunnions, a housing forming a rated intermediate said end wvalls, said in,- ner ywall having uarteringly spaced openings through whic i the trunnions enter the housing, the lend Walls having openingsl in the radial planes of said trunnion openings, means providing-i a journal bearing for each i easing vbeing put under compression by ter the housing and having openings in its trunnion, each of said means' being disposed Within the housing and having opposedends reaching through said openings in the end walls, and means on said opposed ends enthe outer' faces of said end walls and adapted to be relatively drawn togetherwhereby to put the housing sections under compression land 'whereby to hold the bearing means in rigid -relative relation to the housing, so that .said .bearing means together with the housing, -cc` nstitute a relative rigid structure.

universal joint as set'forth in claim l 28, including a. packing between the inner end of each trunnion, the bearin means 'and the wall of the opening throug trunnion' `enters thel housing, said packing drawing the housing sections together.

30. In a universal joint, in combination,

i coupling vmembers having trunnions, a holwhich the low transmission housing forminga lubricant reservoir, said housing having lnner and outer walls joined by end walls 'and being formed of a plurality 'of sections sepa: ratedl intermediate said end walls,

said inner wall having quarteringly spaced openings j through which the trunnions enter the housing, the end walls having openings in the radial planes of said trunnion openings, means providing a journal bearing for each trunnion, each of said means being disposed within the housing and having opposed ends reaching through said openings in the end walls, means on said opposed ends engaging the outer faces of said end walls and adapted to be relatively drawn together, whereby to put the housing sections under compression and whereby to hold the bearing'inean's in rigid relative relation to the housing, so that said bearing means together with the housing. constitute a relative rigid structure, a packing between the inner end of each trunnion, the bearing means and the' wall of the opening through which the trunnion enters the housing, and an end thrust bearing surface for the outer. end of each trunnion rigid with respect to he transmission housing.

CARL L. ANDERSON.

afiv

Dfi. 

